Chapter 212: Good Name
“Imai, what the hell is going on here!”
Hongkou, inside Gendarmerie Headquarters.
Miura Jiro, with a grim face, barked at Imai Takeo, “Why didn’t I know about this, and even Kagesa Sadaki, who’s in charge of negotiations, didn’t know? Have you been hiding it too well?”
As the local highest officer, not knowing about something this important made Miura Jiro feel offended.
If he hadn’t accidentally found out today, he might have made a serious mistake in future exchanges with Wang Faction personnel, leading to rebuke from the Military Department, an unforgivable rebuke.
He hoped it wasn’t some insubordinate trick Imai was playing.
Imai Takeo bowed his head and explained: “Your Excellency Miura, I didn’t intentionally hide this from you. In fact, this matter hasn’t been implemented at all; it’s just a plan.
According to intelligence we’ve gathered from multiple attempts at contact, Chongqing has always been resistant to peace talks. This is because Chongqing’s top leaders believe that if news of peace talks leaks, it would be detrimental to their anti-Japanese united front and to their individuals.
So to induce defection from the Jiang Government, we must find suitable people to contact, pass messages, and release friendly signals, in order to engage in in-depth negotiations with the Jiang Government.
So far, we’ve only been screening Chongqing personnel who can be contacted; we haven’t reached the stage of official exchanges with Chongqing. It’s still too early for everything.”
Miura Jiro frowned and sneered, “Imai-kun, a plan that hasn’t been implemented yet, and the Wang Faction already knows about it. You tell me it’s too early? Are you planning to wait until we can sign documents with the Chongqing Government before telling me?”
“Absolutely no such intention.” Imai Takeo bowed his head in apology.
Kagesa Sadaki, standing nearby, spoke up, “I originally thought the Wang Faction personnel got the peace talks information from inside the Chongqing Government, but according to you, it hasn’t even started. So how did they know?”
Imai Takeo looked over, thought for a moment, and said: “Only people from Central China Expeditionary Force Headquarters and Nanjing Reform Government know about this. It must be leaks from those two places.”
Kagesa Sadaki raised an eyebrow slightly, smiling faintly with some surprise: “Then their intelligence-gathering ability is stronger than we imagined. They’ve already planted eyes in the Reform Government so quickly, and at high levels, right?”
Central China Expeditionary Force Headquarters commander was first ruled out; naturally, Kagesa thought the problem came from the Reform Government.
“If that’s the case, I think the Wang Faction personnel are very capable. We should continue negotiations with them instead of chasing the illusory possibility of peace talks with the Chongqing Government. Offending the Wang Faction personnel might leave us empty-handed on both ends.”
Imai Takeo nodded slightly, “I’ve considered this issue, so I was planning to negotiate with them on one side while contacting Chongqing people on the other. Based on Chongqing’s desire not to let the outside world know they’re holding peace talks with us, we can negotiate on both ends simultaneously.
Now, it’s a bit regrettable.”
Kagesa Sadaki chuckled, “I think you’re going to unnecessary trouble. With their strong capabilities, once the government is established, we can use it to strike at Chongqing.
We’ve occupied all coastal cities; economic taxation—as long as these areas develop, the Chongqing Government’s downfall is just a matter of time.
Negotiating with Chongqing is pointless in the end; we will definitely swallow all of China, that’s unchanging. We still have to go to war with the Jiang Government.
For now, the most important thing is to quickly promote the establishment of the Wang regime. Use his identity to establish a new Kuomintang regime, thereby weakening the Chongqing Government’s legitimacy and replacing it.
Controlling the Kuomintang in our hands is far more important than negotiating with Chongqing. If you actually succeed in talks with Chongqing, how do we undermine the Chongqing Government’s legitimacy then?”
Imai Takeo frowned and shook his head, “That’s not how it works. If talks really succeed, the initiative is in our hands. For example, disclosing peace talk documents signed by President Jiang—wouldn’t that greatly undermine the Chinese people’s anti-Japanese fervor?
Then when we go to war, won’t their cohesion be shattered?”
“You don’t even know how long it will take to draw that final stroke. In the meantime, what about the Wang Faction personnel?” Kagesa Sadaki asked. “You negotiate for a year, we stall for a year; you negotiate for two years, we stall for two? The economic losses outweigh the gains.”
“Sigh, it wasn’t discovered until now. Those idiots in Nanjing can’t even keep a small secret.” Imai Takeo said with considerable resentment.
Kagesa Sadaki sneered dismissively, “Being able to develop their own people on someone else’s turf clearly shows their strength; in the long run, it’s absolutely a good thing.
I remember that Mayor Liang Hongzhi of the Nanjing Reform Government was quite resentful about the arrival of Wang Faction personnel and should have kept a tight watch on his subordinates.
Imai Takeo nodded, “You’re right about that. Liang Hongzhi has always been dissatisfied with our government merger. He doesn’t like the arrival of Wang Faction personnel and feels he was the first to defect to us, so even if a new government is established, he should be the head.
He’s complained to Expeditionary Force Headquarters about this more than once.
Actually, this peace talks proposal with the Chongqing Government was originally put forward by him to Headquarters.
“Oh?” Kagesa Sadaki raised an eyebrow in surprise, then sneered, “A man of great ambition but little talent.”
Imai Takeo shook his head, “Whether he’s lacking in talent isn’t the point. If we can really hold peace talks with the Chongqing Government, our controlled people and the Chongqing Government’s original people will inevitably form a new united government. Compared to Wang Faction personnel, Liang Hongzhi is much easier to control.”
That was true; Kagesa Sadaki smiled, “That’s the only value of a mediocre talent.”
“You two, have you come up with a plan? The Wang Faction personnel’s attitude toward us is very poor now. General Headquarters assigned the ‘using Chinese to control Chinese’ plan as national policy! How am I supposed to report to General Headquarters?”
Miura Jiro didn’t even care if talks succeeded; that was the negotiators’ problem.
But a blunder like this now—if the Wang Faction personnel stop talking, everyone in Shanghai will be held accountable by the Military Department. That’s a failure he cannot tolerate.
“We must continue talks with the Wang Faction side; I’ll explain to General Headquarters.” Imai Takeo took all the blame.
That was good, just as Miura Jiro expected.
But he was curious, “Then how will you explain this to the Wang Faction to keep them talking?”
“That’s not difficult. People with ideals will eventually be burdened by them. I’ll handle it; please rest assured, Your Excellency.” Imai Takeo bowed his head.
West Shanghai, Tea House.
Gu Yansheng set down his coffee cup, quite leisurely.
He could rest for a few more days.
Relations between Mr. Wang and the Japanese were now strained, so all originally planned propaganda plans and visits to the concessions were completely put on hold.
Both sides had moved out of the villa complex near Hongkou. Minister Zhou originally had his own villa in Shanghai, on Yuyuan Road in the French Concession, a high-end residential area.
Wang Ni previously had no house of his own in Shanghai, so now he was living in the newly selected Yuyuan Road villa.
He refused to return to the Japanese house in Hongkou, saying, “Even if Military Statistics Bureau assassinates me to death, I won’t go back to that house full of eyes!”
With both of them moved, his subordinates who were originally in Hongkou had no choice but to follow.
Under death threats, they harbored considerable resentment. Unable to vent at President Wang, they could only direct it at the Japanese.
Now both sides were sulking; business would have to wait until the sulking ended.
Gu Yansheng didn’t need to do any little maneuvers for this.
From the perspective of benefiting the country and the people, Wang Faction personnel didn’t have to defect, but since they already had, they must steadfastly walk the traitor path.
These people constantly infighting with Old Jiang in Chongqing was not conducive to the overall anti-Japanese situation.
Having a loud surrender faction around was like mosquitoes buzzing endlessly, inevitably unsettling the hearts of soldiers still fighting.
So Chongqing wouldn’t want them back.
On the contrary, now that Wang was in the Japanese occupied area, he could maximize his value; even just the food, drink, and daily needs of the subordinates he brought could skim quite a bit of money from the Japanese.
This was beneficial to Gu Yansheng too; he just needed to wait to make a fortune.
So be a good steward, put in some effort, flatter a bit, secure a minister position, and any other little moves would be unnecessary.
With nothing to do, do some things a traitor should do.
“Old Jin, Old Jin, come up here.” Gu Yansheng called the driver.
Old Jin came upstairs immediately, “Mr., you wanted me?”
“Go to City Government for me, pick up a person, female, at the City Government’s parking lot. Once you’re there, call back; she’ll come find you. Bring her here once you pick her up.”
“Got it, I’ll go now.”
“Mm.”
With time now, Shen Shuyun—Gu Yansheng had to bring her over. As a traitor, one couldn’t be too clean.
Ring ring, ring ring.
“Hello, Minister Zhou, mm, is that so?”
The Japanese had already approached Wang Ni; that was fast.
Gu Yansheng smiled, “Talked it out, right? Good news; the new government establishment should be soon, yeah?”
Minister Zhou said on the phone: “I just found out about this too. Imai Takeo personally visited Mr. Wang, and Mr. Wang agreed right away. Honestly, I think he agreed too readily. We could have pressed the Japanese a bit, which would help negotiations, but he agreed too readily.”
Gu Yansheng asked curiously: “Do you know the specifics of how they talked? Mr. Wang seemed so angry; he didn’t look that easy to talk to.”
Minister Zhou grumbled, “Don’t know the specifics, he didn’t say, but… tsk, probably that whole patriotism spiel. The Japanese nailed Mr. Wang’s desire to petition for the people and pursue peaceful nation building. If they pressed him with that, he’s very likely to agree.”
Some things he couldn’t say to Gu Yansheng; after all, gossip has limits, especially about the future government head.
But Wang did have a innate weakness: he loved fame.
He didn’t know if assassinating Regent Zaifeng had thrilled Wang; though it failed and he was imprisoned, he still gained great fame, ultimately renowned worldwide.
To the point that now with peaceful nation building, he could press the Japanese but agreed so readily.
Minister Zhou figured when the Japanese brought out patriotism and saving the masses, Wang was thinking: my personal humiliation is nothing; setting up the new government early to save the world is the right path.
Assassinate the regent, imprisoned, ultimately renowned worldwide.
Peace talks with Japan, endure infamy, ultimately renowned worldwide.
The exact same pattern!
The Japanese had grasped his vital point.
“Now he’s confirmed with the Japanese; the day after tomorrow, formal peace negotiations, location at sea. I’ll attend too. If talks go smoothly, we need to hurry subsequent matters. Notifying you first; make preparations.”
“Got it, I’ll arrange it.”
Gu Yansheng wouldn’t attend peace talks; his identity wasn’t Wang Faction.
“Mm, that’s it for now.”
“Goodbye.”
Gu Yansheng hung up; their actions were truly fast. He hadn’t even started resting, and the holiday was ending.
Another hour later, Old Jin brought Shen Shuyun.
“Division Chief.” Shen Shuyun appeared quite demure and obedient in front of outsiders.
